Renée Zellweger, known for her role in the Bridget Jones film series, made the most of her six-year break from acting.
The highly anticipated fourth installment of the Bridget Jones franchise, titled Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, is set for release soon. Fans are eagerly awaiting Zellweger’s return to the beloved role.
Check out the trailer for a taste of what’s to come:
Zellweger’s portrayal of Bridget Jones began in 2001, and the final film in the series is scheduled for release on Valentine’s Day this year. The 55-year-old actress has also appeared in films like Chicago (2002), Miss Potter (2006), and Judy (2019). However, she took a break from acting between 2010 and 2016.
In an interview with British Vogue, Zellweger told Hugh Grant that she needed the hiatus because she was “sick of the sound of [her] own voice.”
After her 2010 film My Own Love Song, Zellweger returned to acting with the Netflix release The Whole Truth.
Reflecting on her acting experiences, she said, “When I was working, I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, listen to you. Are you sad again, Renée? Oh, is this your mad voice?’ It was a regurgitation of the same emotional experiences.”
During her time off, Zellweger did more than just rest. She shared that she “wrote music” and “studied international law.”
That’s not all, though.
She also revealed: “I built a house, rescued a pair of older doggies, created a partnership that led to a production company, advocated for and fundraised with a sick friend, and spent a lot of time with family and godchildren and driving across the country with the dogs.” Her productive break makes one think about the importance of balancing life.
Zellweger concluded: “I got healthy.”
It’s inspiring to see someone find new passions and succeed, but as we embrace the New Year, let’s not succumb to any pressure from the first Bridget Jones movie to change ourselves unnecessarily.